It was a cold and a late windy afternoon in Shantytown. The snows from the previous days were gathered amongst the narrow streets, neglected by the poor citizens who didn’t want to perform the shoveling duty that the guards felt fit to do everywhere else in the city.

As Temmit and Leslie walked through the snow, both with heavy scarves and other such cold-weather gear, they didn’t stop to talk. The wind blew the light snow crystals around them in such ferocity that the pair had to turn their heads away from their path on many occasions. Luckily the heavy cloth wrapped around their faces and the thickness of the hooded cloaks were made for such typical Safe-Haven winters.

Passerby’s didn’t see the need to even look at them, much less bother the two kids as they walked through the heart of the poor district. And although the weather was despicable and the first workday of the week threatening the following morn, Temmit found the town more active than he would have assumed.

So as they reached the barren, rail-less porch of the Fortune Teller establishment, he said a silent thanks to the weather instead of cursing it goodbye. For tt certainly had kept people’s heads down, and their mouths to themselves.

Leslie took the lead and knocked on the door. The friendly rotund woman that Temmit knew as Aunt Deidra opened the door almost immediately and let them in.

“Temmit!” Deidra exclaimed as they entered the narrow corridor beyond. She had recognized his eyes above the scarf.

’...and most likely your endearing stiff posture.’

’Look whose talking?’

“And who is this little thing?” Deidra asked as Leslie pulled her scarf down and her hood back.

“Name is Leslie Ma’am, how do you do?” Leslie asked politely and put her hand out. Temmit noted that she didn’t use formal introduction.

Aunt Deidra leaned forward and shook it gently, the large woman appearing to be afraid to even get close to the little girl, lest she pull her into her gravity well. (OOC: hehe)

"Good evening, ma'am." Temmit said, smiling as he took his scarf off. "When I was talking to Mia yesterday, she reminded me so much of Leslie that I thought that they should meet. Hope you don't mind?"

“Of course not dear,” Deidra quickly said with a pleasant smirk. “Heck, I am just glad she has friends who are brave enough to walk through this Kaine-forsaken town.”

Leslie was looking at all the nick-knacks and crafted items on the wall. Thankfully she wasn’t close yet to the pendant, but Temmit suddenly feared she would discover it eventually, and perhaps with a yelp.

“I am just starting dinner in the kitchen and Mia is with a customer at the moment. You two can head on in when he comes out okay?” Deidra said, and walked into the kitchen.

Temmit knew the kitchen beyond the archway was not large, whispering to Leslie would be impossible unless some real ferocious sizzling started on the oven.

The woman let out a hearty chuckle in the kitchen. “Looking for another good meal Slick?” she asked and he heard her shuffle back towards the archway.

Leslie stopped looking at the nick-knacks just long enough to wink at him.

Deidra stuck her head out of the archway. “I am just kidding. No dear, I don’t need any help, you two want some Bean-stuffed corn bread and bacon? Might take about a hand but if you two entertain my niece long enough it will be ready before you know it.”

Leslie, who had her back to Deidra as she crouched on the floor to look at stuff, looked up at Temmit with pleading eyes.

Temmit didn’t need to sense her hungry motive to recognize the waif’s answer.

“Isn’t it the truth,” exclaimed Leslie, still crouching on the floor. “Some of this stuff you can tell she made when she was younger, but it’s really good.”

Leslie spoke as one who knew she was being overheard by a beloved family member of the person being critiqued. She did have genuine appreciation in her eyes though.

“She has a couple of boyfriends in her House that can’t stand the fact that she is so good with steel. They say that her teacher criticizes her for being super-slow, but then shows off her work when she is done.” Leslie said and stood up.

As she looked at the plaque with Mia’s grandfather’s name on it as sponsor, she said, “I heard she made a sword so sharp that you could cut yourself just looking at it.”

Leslie was then quiet, she put her hands behind her back and simply scanned the work. She didn’t try to look behind Temmit, but instead was content on looking at what she could.

Temmit could here a male voice behind the door, but for all the lack of good materials in ShantyTown, still couldn’t make out the conversation through it.

For a few anxious turns, the possibility of Temmit’s fear became uncomfortable for him. Having both Mia and Leslie exposed was sure cause for concern. When the door opened however, a stranger came through and Temmit was very relieved.

The young man, although dressed up for warmth, was not in uniform. Temmit had a hard time guessing his profession or military service. He didn’t look quite young enough to be in school or old enough to be out of the service.

“Private Meeks,” Leslie said to the man in greeting as the man passed bye Temmit in the corridor.

“Certainly,” she said. Temmit could tell from the girl’s mannerisms that she knew this soldier quite well, she seemed comfortable talking to him. “I hope the wind dies down before sunup tomorrow, you and Jones will freeze to the side of the Tavern if it doesn’t.”

“Meh, I am not worried Lez, your mother always hooks us up with that special warm brew of hers, we’ll be okay,” he said.

As they talked the Private put on his scarf and cloak and finally raised the hood.

“You sure you don’t need an escort out of ShantyTown when you are done here Lez,” he asked in concern.

“No thanks. I have a friend two blocks down checking out erm....a quick card game,” she said to him with a wink. “He promised to escort me out later. But don’t tell my parents okay?”

Temmit realized that the man had made no connection between he and Leslie standing there. And any plausibility of the fact was just erased with Leslie’s words, he just hoped now that Deidra wasn’t going to overhear and blow her cover.

“Alrighty then lass, have a good time! And don’t worry, I won’t tell your Pop,” he said with a nice smile and left.

Leslie turned back to Temmit and smiled, “he’s nice,” she said simply. Before he could say anything in turn, Mia came up beside him from her open door.

“Hello Temmit and oh! Hi Leslie!” Mia seemed very pleased to see her friend and before Temmit knew what happened, the three of them were sitting around Mia’s small fortune teller table chatting.

After many words between the girls about how the two of them were doing in certain classes and such, Leslie finally broached the subject of importance. As Leslie spoke, Temmit, as he sat, closed the door behind him with a gently push of his hand.

“Mia, Temmit brings me here on a special errand, so I think I will ask him to introduce the subject,” Leslie said, not yet revealing her involvement in Whisper.

At Mia's affirmation, he continued. "Well, Leslie is one of our finest, and one of my best friends. I thought that it would be a good idea if you and she became friends. She could sort of guide you along our Clan, if you will."

He smiled then, laughing at himself. "Imagine my surprise to find that you were indeed already friends!"

"I had thought to brind Leslie over for an introduction, but turns out it will be more of a social visit."